What is the practical significance of Christmas?
The annual Christmas is a day celebrated by everyone, regardless of skin color or country. In the West, children are eagerly looking forward to receiving Christmas gifts from Santa Claus on this day. Who is “Santa Claus”? No one has seen it. He will only show up at Christmas and give people Christmas gifts. In the emotional desert of modern life, the mysterious Santa Claus brings a family charm.
Christmas gifts for children can best reflect the meaning of gifts. Anthropologists often emphasize the obligation of gifts in return. However, Christmas gifts for children just break this obligation of return. The actual givers of Christmas gifts are of course the parents, but they give all the credit to the mysterious Santa, just for the children’s naive expectation. Preventing children from losing their innocence to Santa Claus prematurely is to make them understand that there is no special reason for people to give gifts to strangers.
During the holiday season, Santa Clauses appearing in public places are all in the same costume, with a red hat and a big beard. They sincerely gift strangers in the name of others, bringing endless warmth to this cold winter. In a modern society where strangers form each other, this kind of gift becomes a symbol of personal altruism. Therefore, this western festival is also so popular in eastern countries. It is this spirit and consciousness that makes us all cheer his arrival.
